Bus drivers transport people between various places—including, work, school, and shopping malls—and across state and national borders. Some drive regular routes, and others transport passengers on chartered trips or sightseeing tours. They drive a range of vehicles, from 15-passenger buses to 60-foot articulated buses (with two connected sections) that can carry more than 100 passengers.

Duties

Bus drivers typically do the following:

• Pick up and drop off passengers at designated locations
• Follow a planned route according to a time schedule
• Help disabled passengers get on and off the bus
• Obey traffic laws and state and federal transit regulations
• Follow procedures to ensure passenger safety
• Keep passengers informed of possible delays
• Perform basic maintenance (check the bus tires, lights, and oil)
• Keep the bus clean and presentable to the public

School bus drivers transport students to and from school and other activities. On school days, drivers pick up students in the morning and return them home in the afternoon. They also drive students to field trips, sporting events, and other activities. Between morning and afternoon trips, some drivers work at schools in other occupations, such as janitors, cafeteria workers, or mechanics. School bus drivers typically do the following:

• Ensure the safety of children getting on and off the bus
• Attend to the needs of children with disabilities
• Keep order and safety on the school bus
• Understand and enforce the school system's conduct rules
• Report disciplinary problems to the school district or parents

Local transit bus drivers follow a daily schedule while transporting people on regular routes along city or suburban streets. They stop frequently, often every few blocks and when a passenger requests a stop. Some large transit agencies may require bus drivers to submit traffic data for analysis. Local transit drivers typically do the following:

• Collect bus fares, sometimes making change for passengers
• Answer questions about schedules, routes, and transfer points
• Report accidents or other traffic disruptions to a central dispatcher

Intercity bus drivers transport passengers between cities or towns, sometimes crossing state lines. They usually pick up and drop off passengers at bus stations or curbside locations in downtown urban areas. Intercity drivers typically do the following:

• Ensure all passengers have a valid ticket to ride the bus
• Sell tickets to passengers when there are unsold seats available, if necessary
• Keep track of when passengers get on or off the bus
• Follow a central dispatcher's instruction when taking an alternate route
• Help passengers load or unload baggage

Charter bus drivers, sometimes called motorcoach drivers, transport passengers on chartered trips or sightseeing tours. Trip planners generally arrange their schedules and routes based on the convenience of the passengers, who are often on vacation. Motor coach drivers are sometimes away for long periods of time because they usually stay with the passengers for the length of the trip. Motor coach drivers typically do the following:

• Listen to and sometimes address passenger complaints
• Ensure the trip stays on schedule
• Help passengers load or unload baggage
• Account for all passengers before leaving a location
• Act as tour guides for passengers, if necessary